Railway traffic controlling apparatus



Jan. 29, 1935. L, E, SPRAY 1,989,533

RAILWAY TRAFF IC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 15, 1930 9 A Y 15" Y J I? "/F 3 '1 Slow 1 1019012. I Y

INVENTOR 1 L .E Sp ray,

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1935 RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING 4 APPARATUS Lester R. Spray, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Compan Swissvale, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 15, 1930, Serial No. 468,099

5 Claims.

My invention relates to railway trafiic controlling' apparatus, andp-articularly to apparatus of the type involving a railway switch and a sign governing traffic over the switch.

One feature of my invention is the provision of novel and improved means operating when the signal has been cleared and a train is approaching the signal to prevent the operation of the switch for a given interval of time if the signal is restored to the stop position before the train has passed it;

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

Referring to the drawing, the reference characters 1 and 1 designate the railsv of a railway track, which rails are divided byinsulated joints 2 to form a main track section BC and'an approach track section A-B. The main section B--C' contains a railway switch D operated by a mechanism E, and traffic into this section from the approach section A-B is controlled by two signals S and S These signals are in turn controlled by two signal relays H and H3, respectively. 1 s

Track section BC is provided with a .track circuit comprising a battery 3 and a track relay T Section A--B is provided with a similar track circuit comprising a battery 3 anda track relay Signal S is provided with a circuit which passes from terminal X of a suitable source of current,

through a front contact 4 of relay H and the operating mechanism of signal S to terminal Y 1 of the same source of current. Signal S is provided with a similar circuit including a front contact 5 of the associated relay H Each signal relay H and H is provided with a circuit which includes a front contact of track relay T sothat "train, both of these relays will be-deenergized, with the result that both signals SI and S will indicate stop. The circuits for these relays are selectively controlled from a distant, point through apparatus having nothing to do with my present invention, which apparatus is therefore omitted from the drawing to simplify the disclosure.

The switch operating mechanism E is controlled in part by a front contact 16 of an approach locking relay G, it being understood that the circuit for this mechanism will also be controlled from a distant point through the medium of apparatus which is not shown in the drawing. The purpose of contact 16 is to prevent switch mechanism E from being operated unless the approach locking relay G is energized.

The approach locking relay G is controlled in part by a slow-acting device F having an operating winding 1'7 and a normally open contact 10.

This device is so designed that after winding 17 to, terminal Y.

The approach locking relay G is provided witha first pick-up circuit, which passes from terminal X, throughbackcontacts 6 and 7 of, signal-relays H and H back contact ,8 of track relay T and the winding of relay G to terminal Y. This relay is provided with a second pick-upcircuit which passes from terminal X, through back contacts 6 and '7, front contact 9 of track relay T2, and the. winding of relay G to terminal Y. Relay G is provided with a third pick-up circuit, which passes from terminal X, through back contacts 6 and "7, contact 10 of the slow-acting device F, and the winding-of relay G to terminal Y. Relay G is providedwith astick circuit which passes from terminal X, through back contacts 6 v and '7 ofthesignal relays, frontcontact 11 of relay G,-andt he-winding of relay G to terminal The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Normally the signals S and S indicate stop, the track, relays T and T are energized, the slowacting device F is deenergized, and the approach locking relay G is energized. With the parts in these positions, the switch Dcan be operated because the circuit for mechanism E is closed at contact 16.

I will now assume that the circuit for relay H is closed in orderto clear signal S Relay G :;will then become deenergized because itsv circuits will be open at backcontact 6 of relay H and when the main section BC is occupied .by'aa so the switch D; cannot be operated. When a train moving towardfthe right enters section cause of its main pick-up circuit through back contacts 6, '7 and 8. It follows that when this train passes out of section BC the parts of the apparatus will be restored to the positions in which they are shown in the drawing.

I will now assume that signal S has been cleared, that a train occupies section A-B, and that the operator at thedistant point opens the circuit for relay H in order to restore signal S to the stop position. Relay G will remain open for a given interval of time, because its first circuit is open at back contact 8 of track relay T track relay T and its stick circuit is open at its own contact 11 The circuit for winding 17 of the slow-acting device-F will become closed, however, as soon aslback contact 6 of signal relay H closes, so that after the expiration of the time required for contact of this device to close, the

third pick-up circuit for relay G will become closed, with the result that -this relay willbecome energized. The switch D may then-be operated.

It is understood that if switch-D isin the reverse position and the operator desires-toFadInit a train into section B-C, he will energize signal relay H to clear signal s kbut that the operation of the remainder of the apparatusmay be 15, the same as before.

One'feature' of my invention is the fact that the slow-actin'g device F never becomes energized *except when it is necessary for this device to f functiong that is, "when signal-S or S is restored td' th'e'stop position whilea train occupies the approach section A-B.

Although'I have herein shown and described *only'oneiorm of apparatus embodying: my invention, it is understood that various changes and 2 modifications maybe made therein :within the 35 lockingrelay' for the control of said switch, a slow "acting idevicehaving an energizing winding and 2. normally-open contact,--a first circuit for said approach locking relay including a back contact "of said signal relay -and-aback contact of the 40 track relay ior-said main section,- a second cir- --cuit= for said approach-locking relay including a back contact of said signal relay and a front conmm: the track relay -for said approach sec- "t'ion-ga third circuit forsaid approach locking re- 45 "lay-including-aback contact of said signal relay and the contact of-said slow-acting device, a "stickcircuit for said approach locking relay in- "cludingaback-contact ofsaid signal relay, and T *se'ctionya signal for-govern1ng traffic into said -main section, an approach locking relay for the a circuit for thewinding ofsaid slow-acting de- 50 vice including a back contact of said-signal relay and a back contact-ofsaid approach locking relay -as wllas'a front "contact of the -track relay for 1 the main section and-a -back contact ofthe track islow-acting device when said signal indicates stop i-if-iandrlonly if said'approach locking relay relay for the approachsection.

55 "2.-"In combination,-a main section'of railway track containing a switch, an I approach section,

a track circuit including a track relay for each *section; a signal for said main section, asignal relayfor the control ofsaid signal, an aproach "60 locking relay for the control'of said switch, a slow-acting device having an energizing winding and a normally open contact, a circuit for the winding. of said"slow-acting,device-including a back contact of said signal relay andzai back contact of said approach locking relay as well as a front contact of the track relay for said main. c section and aback contact of the track relay "for-said approach section, and means for controlling said approach locking relay by said signal relay and said track relays as well as by the contact of said slow-acting device.

3. In combination, a main section of railway track containing a switch, an approach section, a track circuit including a track relay for each section,-a'signal for governing traflic into said main section, an approach locking relay for the control of said switch, aslow-acting device having an energizing winding. anda normally-open contact,

means for energizing the-winding of saidslowacting device when saidzsignal indicates stop provided that said approachlocking relay is deenergized provided that the track relay for said main section is energizedand the track relayfor said approach section is deenergized, and means for preventing said approach locking relay from beingenergized unless. saidsignal indicates stop.

and the track relay for said main section is deenergized or 'thetrack relay for'said approach sectionisenergized or the contact'of'saidslowacting device is closed.

4.- In combination, a' main section of railway track. containing a switch, an approach section, a: trackcircuit including a track relay for each section, a signal" for governing traific into said main section, an approach locking relay for the control ofsaidswitch, a slow-acting device hav-..

ing. an energizing-winding and a normally open "contact,:meansforienergizing the winding of said slow-acting :device when :said signal indicates -stop.:if .andjonly if said sapproache locking relay is deene rgized and the track relay for said main ssection 'is'energized and the'track relay' for said approach section is deenergizedpand means for "controllingsaid-approach locking relay by said track'relays and bythe-contact of said slowacting device.

:"5; In combination,- a mainsection :of railway track'containing a switch, an approach section, atrack circuit. including a track relay for'each is de'energized and the track relay for said approach section is deenergizedmnd means for controlling saidapproach locking relay by said track relays and :by Ithecontact of said slow-acting device.

' LESTER E. SPRAY. 

